Wind turbine



W. BIEHN WIND TURBINE Sept. 18, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 25, 1953 Mrran BY mi E ATTORNEY Sept. 18, 1934.

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W. BIEHN WIND TURBINE Filed Jan.l 25. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIQ/fran v'e/m,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1934v UNITED? STATES 11,974,008 WrND TURBINE" Warren Biehn, Philadelphia, Pa.'

Application January 25,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved wind turbine designed and manufactured for generating power, adapted for use in connection with and operating various devices and maj chinery.

The invention has for its purpose the provision of a turbine of this kind where its ability is such as to withstand winds of severe storm velocity without damage.

of this kind a structure which would permit its manufacture in various sizes, capable of substantial power, even in a light wind.V

Another purpose is to provide, in a machine oiA 1 this kind a wind shielding element so balanced relative to a wind vane as to enable the vane to operate on a thrust bearing without undue strain on the various parts.

Another purpose is to provide a shielding ele- I ment so mounted as to avoid leverage strain on any elements associated with the bearing of the shield or other parts of the mechanism.

Another purpose is to provide va turbine of this kind which insures durability or the varil ous parts as Well as safety to human life.

Another purpose is to provide a turbine of thisl kind that can be constructed for use in operating toys, or constructed large enough to provide considerable power output.

A further purpose is to provide a turbine, wherein the propeller includes a multiple oi blades, which may be solid in area from the top to the bottom, or the blades in sections, the low er sections intervening the upper sections, theremay impinge for imparting movement to the propeller.

A still further purpose is the provision of a turbine, wherein the shield is properly balanced with the vane, so that when the position of the vane is changed according to the change of the wind directions, the shield will not be obstructed in its movements, and also wherein the shield Vincludes means for preventing displacement of `the shield, namely preventing its disengagement from its thrust bearing at the top of the tower.

A still further purpose is to provide tracks on which rollers of the shield travel, during the 50 rotation of the shield, according to the direction of the wind currents.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative, and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and Another purpose is to provide, in a machine by providing greater area on which the windl 1933, Serial No. 653,525

proportions may be made inthe construction cil the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises.furtherfeatures and combination of parts to be hereinafterrset forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

Figure Yl is a viewin elevation of the improved turbine,wherein the tower is constructed for installation on the ground. f V

Figure 2 isa view partly in elevation and part` ly in section ci the upper part of the turbine as disclosed in Figure 1, but showing the blades in sections, the lower sections intervening with the upper sections.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation ofthe turbine showing the frame of a size for installation cna` roof or" a building, so that the higher Wind currents may impinge With the blades of the propeller. 1

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 7p 4-.4 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 5 is a plan View.

Referring to the drawings 1 identifies a tower, which may be constructed ofrtubular uprights 2, which as shown in Figure 1 are anchored in concrete or similar foundations 3J, Referring to Figure 3 these uprights may be threaded as shown` at 4 in bosses 5 of metal plates 6, which in turn may be secured at 7 totheV roof of abuilding.

The upper portions of the uprights 2 merge into intersecting radial portions 8, which are sol- Yfastened together by upper and lower castings 9 and 9a, which are bolted togetheras at 10.

Mounted in a thrust bearing 11 of .the lower casting 9a is a shaft 12, the lower end of which ismounted in 'a thrust bearing 13 incased in a concrete foundation 14 at the lower part of the tower. In Figure 3 the lower end of the shaft 12 is mounted in a bearing of aplate lsecured at 16 to the roof.l f Carried by and secured to lthe lshaft 12 at 17 are blades ,18, which in .Figure 3 are solid throughout their length-from the top to the bottom. However` in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 the blades 18a are in upper and lower sections, thereby providing greaterv area in which the wind currents may iinpinge forv creating substantial power.

The blades 18 and 18a are relatively reinforced by the curved rods 19, which are secured in sockets 20 in plates, which are bolted to the blades, thereby retaining the blades (which are curved) in rigid positions relative to the shaft 12.

Electrically welded or otherwise secured at 21 to the uprights 2 is a curved track 22, which not only serves to reinforce the uprights, but also is engaged by roller 23 operatively mounted upon the inner surface of the shield 24. The rollers 23 are of the grooved type, and the lower flanges of these rollers are greater than the upper flanges, which prevent any upward movement of the shield. Connecting the opposite edges of the shield is a curved rod or rail 25, and carried by the rod lor rail 25 vare additional rollers 26, which are similar in construction to the rollers 23, which prevent tilting of the shield. The upper portion of the shield merges into a segment top 27, and the curved end 28 of the seg-v ment top has a socket 29 including a thrust bearing 30 on a stud 31, projecting upwardly from the upper casting 9 which assists in holding the radial portions of the uprights in position. I

Also supported on the -seg'rnen'tvtop of 'the shield is a frame 33 having a projecting armV 34 provided with a vane 35. Extending -in an opposite direction to the vane and braced relative to the frame 33 is an arm 37 carrying a Vweight 38, and th1ough.the.-.medium of which the'vahe and the shield are balanced.

The radial portions (which form the top o'f the frame tower) of the uprights haveV electrically welded thereto a circular track 43 similar to the lower track, and 'engaged therewith are grooved rollers 44 carried by the segment top, thereby providing amounting for the shield.

' The lower end 'of the shaft 12 is provided with a beveled gear 45, and meshing therewith is a similar beveled gear '46 :carried by a shaft 4'7 mounted in a bearing 48. This shaft 47 may be Lused for conveying power to any suitable machinery `(not shown) for 'operating same.

Where the turbine is mounted on a roof level the shaft 1-2 would necessarily pass vthrough the building, therefore its lower end (not shown) in the lower part of' the building (not shown) would be equipped with gearing for transmitting power to any suitable source of consumption.

` By `means ofthe roller imoufntin'gs Iof the shield, the shield and the vane are evenly balanced l'and supported. Itxis obvious 'that the tracks `fork the mounting Yo'f the shield may Vbe increased in number if necessary.; Also'where 'the rollers or wheels engage with the tracks suitable vclearance may ybe provided between them andthe tracks for permitting of a VAslight `play between such parts to insure proper movement of the shield incident to the wind currents. construction of the rollers at the lower end of the shield the shield and the vane will be prevented from being blown oil".`

:on the top of the tower, the lower track *encircling the tower at Ya 'point "a 'substantial `distance below the "upper track, a propeller in the upper parto-f 'thel'tower including a shaft mounted in bearings of the *tower and Ifrom which .power may be `taken to any 'suitable source ofl consumption, -a shield having a top including a bearing on top of the tower, rollers depending By v means of vthe 1 from the top of the shield and engaging down upon the upper circular track to insure the freedom of movement of the shield, rollers on vertical axes mounted at the lower part of the shield on its inner face and engaging laterally against the lower track to retain the shield concentric with said shaft, said lower rollers having means cooperating with the lower track to prevent upward movement of-thc shield, and a balanced vane carried by the top. of the shield, to direct and position the shield according to the direction of the wind.

2. In a wind turbine, a skeleton tower, said tower having vertical bearings and a thrust bearing at its extreme upper end, a shaft journaled in said Vertical bearings with its upper end engaged with the thrust bearing, said thrust bearing comprising opposed members connecting intersecting rods of the skeleton tower, a lower track encircling the tower and supported thereby, a circular upper track on the upper end of said tower, a segment shield concentric with the tower and having a top, an end oi' the top havin-g a thrust bearing onone `of the members of the rst thrust bearing, traction means carried by the top `of the shield andeng-aging with said upper track, the lower part of the shield onv its interior provided with traction means at a plurality of diametrically opposite locations engaging with the lower circular track, a balanced vane carried by the top of the shield, said last named lower traction means including elements engaging under the lower circular track, thereby preventingl upward movement of the shield and also counteracting the weight of the vane as well as supporting the super structure ofl the shield, and a propeller carried by said shaft.

3. In a wind turbine, the combination with a skeleton frame comprising vertical rods positioned at a plurality of diametrically opposite locations, the upper portions of the rods terminating in radial portions intersecting each other, of clamping `elements connecting the in-l tersecting parts of the radial portionsyoi said rods, -one of the elements having a thrust bearing, a vertical shaft provided with a propeller having curved blades, the upper end of said shaft being mounted in `said thrust bearing, circular rods connecting said blades rendering them relatively rigid, a segmental shield concentric with the frame and y'the propeller and provided with a top havingA ajthrust bearing connection with lthe other clamping element, an upper circular track mounted on the top of the radial portions of the frame, -tractionmembers carried by the top of the shield and engaging the upper circular track, a lower circular track concentric to and carried by the vertical rods-of said frame,v

the lower end of the shield vhaving acoinplete annular portion concentric to said lower track, said annulal'portion having lower traction members 'engaging the lower circular track, said' WARREN BIEHN. 

